Snap happy: How to take great photos (when they matter most)
Weddings are finally back on after 73,6000 weddings were postponed¹ as a result of the ongoing pandemic. However, the traditional, invite all the family, gatherings are having to be cut back. With only 30 people allowed at a wedding ceremony, more people will be relying on their guests and their smartphones to capture the special day.
In fact, a study by online smartphone retailer, Mobiles.co.uk has revealed that more than three quarters (77%) of guests will use their phone to capture wedding day action, with an average of 28 photos taken (per person) of the doting bride and groom.
To help ensure the best possible shots, Mobiles.co.uk has put together some tips on how to be Snap Happy and take great photographs with your smartphone at special occasions:
Get to know your camera settings
Prior to the big day, make sure you familiarize yourself with your camera settings. So many people are guilty of leaving their phones in the default auto mode, missing out on many great features to enhance their photography and give them high quality pictures. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different modes: portrait, landscape and in particular, ISO. The ISO setting judges how sensitive your phone camera is to the light based on your current surroundings. Lower ISO numbers are better for brighter lights such as sunlight, whereas higher ISO numbers are better for brightening intimate, low light shots, like those taken under candlelight.
Think about your lighting
Another important thing to remember when composing your shot is the lighting. Photography is all about capturing light and how it reflects on the image. To help create the best shots, try to decipher where your light source is coming from and how it could potentially affect your shot. For example, glass windows in churches or a white reflection from the bride’s wedding dress. Photographer Keith Cullen recommends that: “Natural lighting will always produce a better shot. When taking photos inside, look for artificial lights or ways to reflect what natural light is there.”
Composition is important
How your picture is framed can make the difference between an attractive photograph and something that looks cluttered. Professional photographers use the ‘rule of three’ to compose most of their shots. This involves breaking down the photograph both horizontally and vertically into a nine-sectioned grid. Ensure the subject of your photograph (for example the bride) is placed at intersecting points on the squares and not completely in the centre of the frame. This creates a more balanced shot. Most phones have a grid setting pre-installed and this can be turned on in settings.
Remember to clean your camera lens
It’s so simple but so easily forgotten – could your lens benefit from a bit of a clean? Zafar Jamati, senior account executive at technology PR agency Stone Junction said: “In their haste to capture the moment, many people forget that the most important thing they can do to take a high quality photo is to clean their phone’s camera lens. Although the image sensors and processors in modern phones far outweigh those found in digital cameras from five years ago, lenses haven’t come that far.” You really don’t want to ruin the chance of the perfect picture over dust on your lens, so always check your phone before getting snap happy.
Experiment with apps
There is now a plethora of apps available on smartphones to help give your photos a professional finish. From colour and sharpness correct to auto focus and an array of filters, there are numerous tools you can experiment with to add a new dimension to your photography. However, be cautious and try not to distract from the natural beauty of your image. These images have to last a lifetime and most filters are just a trend.
Top five recommended photo editing apps:
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VSCO Cam
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Prisma
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Pixlr
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Snapseed
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Afterlight
Some of the best Smartphone cameras currently available:
Some of the most impressive smartphone cameras currently available can be found on such handsets as the iPhone 11 family, Samsung Galaxy S20 family, and Google Pixel 4. Features you can find across these devices include Night Mode, AI scene optimisation, and the ability to add artistic blurred backgrounds to portraits. You can learn more about the best smartphone cameras currently available right here: www.mobiles.co.uk/blog/which-
Andrew Cartledge, Mobile Expert at Mobiles.co.uk said: “Cameras in smartphones are becoming more advanced each year, yet not many people know how to best utilise them.
“By creating these tips, we hope that more people will take the chance and experiment with the settings on their smartphone. We want to help them capture every memorable moment of the big day.”
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